Turn that yard into a water-wise garden

CARLSBAD — Carlsbad residents who are eager to give their garden a springtime facelift and prepare for the summer heat will have the opportunity to learn from a professional.
A free water-wise gardening class is offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 21 at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center, 1580 Cannon Road. Participants can learn how to design an eye-catching drought tolerant landscape, select low-water-use plants, remove grass and irrigate effectively.
More than 50 percent of water delivered to homes in San Diego County is used outdoors. “Reducing outdoor water use by altering landscaping practices is the right thing to do,” said Glenn Pruim, utilities director for the city of Carlsbad. “Taking action in the garden now will reap tremendous water savings in the upcoming months and years.”
Greg Rubin, an experienced instructor and owner of California’s Own Native Landscape Design, will teach attendees how to transform their thirsty home landscape into a water-wise colorful garden. The class is hosted by the Carlsbad Municipal Water District in partnership with the Olivenhain Municipal Water District and the Vallecitos Water District. Class space is limited to the first 50 registrants who call (760) 603-6063 or e-mail water@carlsbadca.gov.
The San Diego region continues to experience water shortages due to a prolonged drought and legal restrictions on water pumped from Northern California. Local rain earlier this year did not help increase water supplies because most of it runs off into the ocean. Carlsbad relies on water from the Colorado River and Northern California for 100 percent of its drinking water. Mandatory water use restrictions are currently in place for Carlsbad Municipal Water District and other regional water agency customers.
For more information, visit www.carlsbadca.gov/water or call (760) 438-2722.